The benefits of frequent positive affect: does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131 (6): 803-855. Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005).

The authors of this article suggest a conceptual model to account whether happiness promotes culturally valued success and thriving. Three classes of evidence; cross sectional, longitudinal, and experimental, test their model. Their findings suggest a vast number of associations between positive emotions and resources and characteristics that parallel success and thriving and that positive affect –the hallmark of well-being–may well be the cause of many of the desirable characteristics, resources, and successes correlated with happiness. (Limitations, empirical issues, and important future research questions are discussed).